Russian of ISS crew engaged in biotechnology experiment

November 18, 2011, 11:42 UTC+3The data obtained as a result of the experiment will help scientists understand the behaviour of enzyme systems in space, including in human body

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MOSCOW, November 18 (Itar-Tass) — Flight engineer of the International Space Station (ISS) Expedition 29 Russian cosmonaut Anton Shkaplerov conducts in orbit on Friday the Konstanta biotechnological experiment that determines the laws of behaviour of living matter in cosmos, the Mission Control Centre (MCC) outside Moscow told Itar-Tass.

“The purpose of the experiment is aimed at identifying effects of space flight environment on the activity of a model enzymatic agent with respect to a specific zymolyte,” chief of the research Tatyana Krasheninnikova said. According to the observations of scientists, with time spent in weightlessness the enzyme activity decreases. The data obtained as a result of the experiment will help scientists understand the behaviour of enzyme systems in space, including in human body, in order to subsequently develop effective methods for astronauts’ life support in long-term, including interplanetary missions.

The Konstanta equipment and the obtained data will be delivered to scientists by Russian cosmonaut Sergei Volkov, who together with American astronaut Michael Fossum and Japanese astronaut Satoshi Furukawa will return to Earth on board the Soyuz spacecraft on November 22. Ahead of the landing Vokov is preparing the body for the Earth’s gravity and loads into the spacecraft the returned and removed equipment.